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Topic: Can acupuncture improve sperm count? (Read 5292 times)

Has anyone's DH experienced an improvement in their sperm count after acupuncture? Or seeing a Chinese herbalist?

My DH has severe azoospermia (i.e singles figures after TESE) so this may be a shot in the dark really but we would consider anything if there was evidence that it really makes a difference. many thanks.

My dh count has come back as zero on first sa, we are going to repeat next week and we are waiting for blood results. I have started reflexology training and i am working on dh, it has worked for me with cycle probs. I am a great believer in alternative / complementary therapy and anything is worth a try. Also started him on a load of supplements too! he is moaning he is rattling!

DH has an undescended testicle from birth hence low sperm count. When we had our initial consultation in June this year, his SA was 5.5m & motility 27%. I was having acu whilst on tx & managed to persuade him to have a couple of sessions at the same time. On the day of EC on 17 October, his count had increased to 16m & his motility improved to 45% (think the average is 50%). We went from a def ICSI to borderline IVF - all from DH's 2 acu sessions. The hospital only chose ICSI in the end because his volume was just slightly below average. Our embryologist told us that if our tx didn't work out (BFN today!) then we should ttc naturally! Needless to say DH is now a convert!

A girl on another thread whose DH also had low count, they had both acu & homeopathic. After 3 months, she conceived naturally & is now 19 weeks pregnant!!!

I'm the girl Ronnie is talking about and I can say that yes acu and homeopathy, relflexology will help. My dh sperm count went from 5million with 95% abnormals and low motility to 75 mill 80% abnormal and 65% motile. apparently a very good sample!! previous to his three months of acu and 6 months of homeopathy he had had 6 counts done over 3 years all abnormal. we paid to have a test after our BFP just to see what it was.

My Dh was really sceptical and like Ronnies DH he is now a complete convert.

Congrats to Fran on your brilliant news, what a wonderful turn around for you! So lovely to hear such a loevly story on this site.

Ronnie - so sorry to hear you have a BFN, I hope you are coping ok. But I guess there is a lot of comfort in your improved situation, and the chance to try naturally. I wish you the very best of luck and happiness!

Thanks so much for your replies! You have really given me some hope. I think anything that will help us feel like we have some control, no matter how small, will be a good thing. I wish so much I had thought of this 2 years ago, as we are now approaching our 4th and possibly our last cycle. BUT! Never say never and all that.

Interested to hear you believe homeopathy helped. I have M.E and when I had a relapse 2 years ago it was homeopathy that I believe sorted me out, slowly but surely.

Any tips on how to choose an acupuncturist? There is Traditional Chinese Medecine practice in our home town that does acup...I guess that would be a good place to start?

Just thought i would let you know that after treating dh with reflexology for three sessions his sperm count has gone from zero to 1.8million in two weeks! 50% normal progression. I know not a great jump, but only been two weeks and 1.8 milion is better than big fat zero!! So heres to more reflexology, supplements and an even better result next time. Have to cut down on activity in bedroom, think we have been overusing mr wiggly!! (newly weds!! )

As I've understood it from all I've read, regular activity (once every couple of days) is a very good thing for keeping your man's bits in working order! So go ahead an enjoy! can't remember where I've read this but it was on here in more than one place I think.

Sounds like a very positive improvement for you and DH. We will be happy if we can gain literally one or two sperm, as on his last surgical retreival there was only 1 dead one but I guess the good thing is we have everything to gain from trying acup etc If we can gain even 5 single sperm then it could be the difference between having another cycle or having to give up.

Reflexology works similarly to acupuncure but all the points are on the feet, gentle pressure is applied to stimulate the problem areas to correct themselves. It can be painful at times but over a few sessions it calms down and is very relaxing. I have been treating dh as part of my training,but i have been seeing a reflexologist who specialises in fertility and it has really sorted my cycle out. Her website is www.reproductivehealth.co.uk i think. If this does not work, look up Jane Holt. She has some female sucess stories there and it works for lots of things too.

Good luck

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Thanks for your message. I think reality is only just starting to kick in re our BFN. However, I keep telling myself that we've given it our best shot & there's nothing more we could have done. We've got 2 frosties & if that fails, then we'll ttc naturally for 3 months whilst waiting for another tx. It was Fran who introduced me to her acu. Her story really inspires me & gives me hope.

You can choose an acu by checking out the website of the British Acupuncture Council: http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/. I guess you can always check out the complementary therapies section of this website as I've seen lots of girls asking for recommendation of acus in their area.

Good luck - I hope you are successful with whichever treatment you decide to go with.

Take care

Ronnie

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Hi, everything i've read says it can and does. we're trying it - DH has had 5 sessions so far and has an SA on 21st November so fingers crossed it will have helped. his original SA was 15 mill, good motility but only 1% morph, so pretty bad news really. Will post and update when we get the new figures... living in hope. HTH. there have also been some western scientific studies (double blind, clinically controlled, no vested interest, subject to peer review etc so v robust) into acu and sperm improvements, all of which concluded that it does improve things.